JP2005100687A - Fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cell which has easy maintainability and can be manufactured easily. <P>SOLUTION: The fuel cell comprises: a unit fuel cell 2 which has a fuel side electrode 2b, a solid electrolyte 2c, and an oxygen side electrode 2d formed in order on an electrode supporting body 2a through which a gas can pass in an axis length direction; a cell support board 10 which supports and fixes one end of the unit fuel cell 2; and a gas tank 11 on which the cell support board 10 is formed. The gas in the gas tank 11 passes through the electrode supporting body 2a via through holes 15 formed in the cell support board 10 from the one end to the other end of the unit fuel cell 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell in which gas supply to a fuel cell is simple.

  In recent years, various types of fuel cells in which a plurality of solid electrolyte fuel cells are accommodated in a storage container have been proposed as next-generation energy. A solid electrolyte fuel cell is configured, for example, by sequentially forming a solid electrolyte and a fuel side electrode on the surface of an oxygen side electrode, and fuel (hydrogen) is flowed to the fuel side electrode side, and air is supplied to the oxygen side electrode side. Electricity is generated at about 1000 ° C. by flowing (oxygen).

  Conventionally, the gas supply to the inside of the fuel cell has been performed by inserting pipes provided in the gas tank into the plurality of fuel cells, respectively.

On the other hand, a plurality of gas passage holes are formed in the fuel cell in the axial length direction, and the gas is introduced from one end of the fuel cell and led out from the other end. There is known one in which a through hole communicating with the gas chamber is formed in the concave portion by being inserted and fixed in a concave portion of a partition wall for forming a gas chamber in the container (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-6-349515

  However, the fuel cell in which the pipes provided in the gas tank are inserted into the cell has a problem that the number of pipes is large and time-consuming.

  Further, in the fuel cell described in Patent Document 1, the storage container is partitioned by a partition wall, a gas chamber is formed in the storage container, and one end portion of the fuel cell is fixed to the recess of the partition wall. There is a problem that it is necessary to arrange and set the fuel cells one by one in the concave portion of the partition wall in the storage container, and it takes time to manufacture the fuel cells.

  For example, when one fuel cell is damaged, it is almost impossible to replace the fuel cell, and the fuel cell itself needs to be replaced.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell that is easy to maintain and can be easily manufactured.

  The fuel cell according to the present invention includes a fuel cell in which an inner electrode, a solid electrolyte, and an outer electrode are sequentially provided on an electrode support that allows gas to pass in the axial direction, and a cell that holds and fixes one end of the fuel cell. And a gas tank in which the cell support plate is provided, and the gas in the gas tank is connected to the electrode support through one or more through holes provided in the cell support plate. It passes through to the other end.

  In such a fuel cell, one end portion of the fuel cell is held and fixed to the cell support plate, and this cell support plate is provided in the gas tank. Therefore, the fuel cell is not fixed to the storage container, but in the storage container. For example, if one fuel cell is damaged, the gas tank in which the fuel cell is held and fixed can be removed from the storage container and replaced with another non-defective product. Becomes easy.

  In addition, since the gas in the gas tank passes through the electrode support from one end of the fuel cell to the other end through a through hole provided in the cell support plate, it does not require piping or the like as in the prior art. The gas can be supplied from the gas tank to the fuel cell.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, since the electrode support is provided separately from the inner electrode without using the inner electrode as a support for the fuel cell, the inner electrode and the electrode support are optimal characteristics as an electrode and support. The composition and the like can be controlled so that

  The fuel cell of the present invention is characterized in that the cell support plate constitutes a part of a gas tank. In particular, the cell support plate is desirably a top plate of a gas tank having a through hole. In such a fuel cell, since it is not necessary to use a cell support plate separately from the gas tank, the fuel cell can have a simple structure and can be easily manufactured.

  Furthermore, the fuel cell of the present invention is characterized in that one end of the fuel cell is a non-exposed region of the outer electrode, and the exposed solid electrolyte is fixed to the cell support plate with a sealing agent. .

  For example, when the portion where the outer electrode is formed is fixed to the cell support plate with a sealant, the gas in the gas tank leaks through the porous outer electrode. However, in the fuel cell of the present invention, a dense solid Since the electrolyte is fixed to the cell support plate with a sealing agent, leakage of the gas in the gas tank from the fuel cell can be reliably prevented.

  That is, in the fuel cell, the outer electrode is made porous because it is necessary to supply gas to the solid electrolyte, and the solid electrolyte is made dense because it is necessary to shut off the fuel gas and the oxygen-containing gas. In the invention, the gas from the gas tank flows through the electrode support of the fuel cell through the through-hole of the cell support plate. However, since the dense solid electrolyte portion is joined to the cell support plate with a sealing agent, the fuel cell Leakage of gas from can be prevented.

  In the fuel cell of the present invention, the gas tank is stored in a storage container. In such a fuel cell, since the gas tank exists independently of the storage container, for example, even when a plurality of fuel battery cells provided in the gas tank are damaged, the gas tank is taken out from the storage container and replaced. be able to.

  Furthermore, in the fuel cell of the present invention, the electrode support has a gas passage hole in the axial direction, the cell support plate has a through hole communicating with the gas passage hole of the electrode support, and the cell support plate The total cross-sectional area of the through hole is less than or equal to the total cross-sectional area of the gas passage hole of the fuel cell.

  In such a fuel cell, the gas passage hole of the electrode support and the through hole of the cell support plate communicate with each other, and the sum of the cross sectional areas of the through holes of the cell support plate is the cross sectional area of the gas passage hole of the fuel cell. Therefore, even when a plurality of fuel cells are installed, the through holes in the cell support plate can be used regardless of the manufacturing variation of the fuel cells. Since the gas amount can be controlled by the cross-sectional area, the gas can flow uniformly in each cell.

  Moreover, the fuel cell of the present invention is characterized in that the fuel cell has a plurality of gas passage holes in the axial direction.

  In such a fuel cell, when one fuel cell has a plurality of gas passage holes, even if the cross-sectional area of each gas passage hole of the fuel cell varies, the through holes of the cell support plate Since the sum of the cross-sectional areas is less than or equal to the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the gas passage holes of the fuel cell, the amount of gas that can be discharged from the fuel cell is larger than the amount of gas that can be supplied from the gas tank to the fuel cell. The gas can be made to uniformly flow through the respective through holes.

  Further, in the fuel cell of the present invention, the cell support plate has through holes as many as the gas passage holes of the fuel cell, and the gas passage holes of the fuel cell have the through holes of the cell support plate. Are characterized in that they communicate with each other. In the case where a single fuel cell has a plurality of gas passage holes, by forming the same number of through holes as the gas passage holes in the cell support plate and communicating with each other, the gas is more evenly distributed to the plurality of gas passage holes. It can be made to flow.

  In the fuel cell of the present invention, a plurality of gas passage holes of the electrode support and a plurality of through holes of the cell support plate are opened at the end of the electrode support on the gas tank side of the fuel cell, and the gas from the gas tank Is provided with a gas storage space in which is temporarily stored.

  In such a fuel cell, the gas in the gas tank is temporarily stored in the gas storage space via the through hole of the cell support plate and flows into the electrode support from the gas storage space. Even if the through holes are formed and the plurality of through holes are formed in the cell support plate, the gas is supplied to the fuel cell without aligning the gas through holes of the fuel cell with the through holes of the cell support plate. It can be reliably supplied to the passage hole.

  Further, in order to supply gas to a plurality of fuel cells, it is necessary to increase the pressure of the gas tank so that the gas flows uniformly to each cell. As described above, the gas in the gas tank temporarily enters the gas storage space. Since the gas is stored and flows into the gas passage hole of the fuel battery cell from this gas storage space, the pressure of the gas storage space becomes smaller than the pressure of the gas tank, thereby reducing the force that pushes the end face of the fuel battery cell. The gas sealing reliability can be improved. Further, by forming a plurality of small-diameter through holes in the support plate, the internal pressure of the gas tank can be sufficiently increased, and the fuel cells can be uniformly and sufficiently supplied.

  In the fuel cell of the present invention, a recess having a plurality of gas passage holes is formed in the end surface of the electrode support on the gas tank side of the fuel cell, and the end surface of the fuel cell is in contact with the cell support plate. It is characterized by. Further, the support plate has a holding and fixing recess, and a through hole is formed in the holding and fixing recess, and a spacer is disposed in the holding and fixing recess, and the end of the fuel cell contacts the spacer. It is characterized by touching. Further, the cell support plate has a holding and fixing recess, and a through hole is formed in the holding and fixing recess, and a stopper for defining the insertion amount of the fuel cell is formed in the holding and fixing recess. The fuel cell end is in contact with the stopper.

  The gas storage space can be easily formed by arranging a spacer in the holding and fixing recess of the cell support plate and bringing the end of the fuel cell into contact with the spacer. Moreover, it can form easily by forming the stopper which prescribes | regulates the insertion amount of a fuel cell in the recessed part for holding fixation of a cell support plate. Furthermore, it can be easily formed by forming a recess in which a gas passage hole is opened on the end surface of the fuel cell and bringing the end surface of the fuel cell into contact with the cell support plate.

  In the fuel cell of the present invention, one end of the fuel battery cell is held and fixed to the cell support plate, and this cell support plate is provided in the gas tank. Therefore, the fuel battery cell is not fixed to the storage container, but in the storage container. For example, if one fuel cell is damaged, it can be removed from the storage container and replaced with another non-defective product when one fuel cell is damaged. In addition, since the gas in the gas tank passes through the electrode support from one end of the fuel cell to the other end through a through hole provided in the cell support plate, piping or the like is used as in the past. The gas can be easily supplied from the gas tank to the fuel cell.

  FIG. 1 shows a fuel cell according to the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a storage container having a heat insulating structure. Inside the storage container 1, a plurality of cell stacks 3 in which a plurality of fuel cells 2 are arranged in a tandem arrangement, a combustion region 4 existing above the cell stack 3, and the combustion region 4 are inserted, It is composed of an oxygen-containing gas supply pipe 5 disposed between the cell stacks 3, a reformer 6 provided above the combustion region 4, and a heat exchange unit 7 provided above the reformer 6. Has been. The oxygen-containing gas supply pipe 5 is indicated by a broken line for easy understanding.

  The storage container 1 includes a frame 1a made of a heat-resistant metal and a heat insulating material 1b provided on the inner surface of the frame 1a.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the cell stack 3 is configured by arranging a plurality of fuel cells 2, and the three cell stacks 3 are arranged in three rows, and the two outermost cell stacks 3 arranged adjacent to each other. The electrodes of the fuel cells 2 are connected by a conductive member 42, whereby a plurality of fuel cells 2 arranged in three rows are electrically connected in series. Each cell stack 3 has a fuel gas tank 11.

  More specifically, the fuel battery cell 2 has a flat shape, and a plurality of fuel gas passage holes 8 are formed therein. This fuel battery cell 2 has an oxygen-side electrode 2d made of a fuel-side electrode (inner electrode) 2b, a dense solid electrolyte 2c, and porous conductive ceramics on the outer surface of an elliptical columnar (flat) electrode support 2a. Are sequentially laminated, and an interconnector 2e is formed on the outer surface of the electrode support 2a opposite to the oxygen side electrode 2d.

  A current collecting member 9 is interposed between one fuel battery cell 2 and the other fuel battery cell 2, and an electrode support 2a of one fuel battery cell 2 is connected to the electrode connector 2a. The cell stack 3 is configured by being electrically connected to the oxygen side electrode 2d of the other fuel cell 2 through the current collecting member 9e. The current collecting member 9 has a plate shape and / or a felt shape made of a metal and / or a conductive inorganic material.

  The fuel cell 2 will be described in more detail. The electrode support 2a is a plate-like piece that is elongated in the vertical direction, and has both flat surfaces and both sides of a semicircular shape. The electrode support 2a is formed with a plurality of fuel gas passage holes 8 (6 in FIG. 2 and 4 in FIGS. 3 to 5) penetrating the electrode support 2a in the vertical direction.

  The interconnector 2e is disposed on one side of the electrode support 2a (upper surface in the cell stack 3 in FIG. 2). The fuel side electrode 2b is disposed on the other surface (the lower surface in the cell stack 3 of FIG. 2) and both side surfaces of the electrode support 2a, and both ends thereof are joined to both ends of the interconnector 2e. The solid electrolyte 2c is disposed so as to cover the entire fuel side electrode 2b, and both ends thereof are joined to both ends of the interconnector 2e. The oxygen-side electrode 2d is disposed on the main part of the solid electrolyte 2c, that is, on the portion covering the other surface of the electrode support 2a, and is positioned to face the interconnector 2e with the electrode support 2a interposed therebetween.

  A current collecting member 9 is disposed between adjacent cells 2 in the cell stack 3 to connect the interconnector 2e of one cell 2 and the oxygen side electrode 2d of the other cell 2. Current collecting members 42 are also arranged at both ends of the cell stack 3, that is, one side and the other side of the cell 2 located at the upper end and the lower end in FIG. Electric power extraction means (not shown) is connected to the current collecting members 42 located at both ends of the cell stack 3.

  More specifically about the cell 2, the electrode support 2a is gas permeable to allow the fuel gas to permeate to the fuel side electrode 2b, and is also conductive to collect current via the interconnector 2e. Can be formed from a porous conductive ceramic (or cermet) that satisfies such requirements.

  In order to produce the electrode support 2a by co-firing with the fuel side electrode 2b and / or the solid electrolyte 2c, it is preferable to form the electrode support 2a from an iron group metal component and a specific rare earth oxide. In order to provide the required gas permeability, it is preferable that the open porosity is in the range of 30% or more, in particular 35 to 50%, and the conductivity is also 300 S / cm or more, in particular 440 C / cm or more. Is preferred.

  In particular, the electrode support 2a is composed mainly of a rare earth element oxide composed of one or more selected from Y, Lu, Yb, Tm, Er, Ho, Dy, Gd, Sm and Pr, and Ni and / or NiO. Is desirable. By setting it as such a composition, it can approximate the thermal expansion coefficient of a solid electrolyte.

The fuel side electrode 2b can be formed of a porous conductive ceramic, for example, ZrO ₂ (referred to as stabilized zirconia) in which a rare earth element is dissolved and Ni and / or NiO.

The solid electrolyte 2c has a function as an electrolyte that bridges electrons between the electrodes, and at the same time needs to have a gas barrier property in order to prevent leakage between the fuel gas and the oxygen-containing gas. Usually, it is formed from ZrO ₂ in which ₃ to 15 mol% of a rare earth element is dissolved.

The oxygen side electrode 2d can be formed of a conductive ceramic made of a so-called ABO ₃ type perovskite oxide. The oxygen-side electrode 2d is required to have gas permeability, and the open porosity is preferably 20% or more, and particularly preferably within 30 to 50%.

Although the interconnector 2e can be formed from a conductive ceramic, it needs to have reduction resistance and oxidation resistance because it comes in contact with a fuel gas that may be hydrogen gas and an oxygen-containing gas that may be air. In addition, a lanthanum chromite perovskite oxide (LaCrO ₃ oxide) is preferably used. The interconnect 2e must be dense in order to prevent leakage of fuel gas passing through the fuel gas passage hole 8 formed in the electrode support 2a and oxygen-containing gas flowing outside the electrode support 2a. As described above, it is particularly desirable to have a relative density of 95% or more.

  The current collecting member 9 can be composed of a member having an appropriate shape formed from an elastic metal, alloy, or conductive ceramic, or a member obtained by adding a required surface treatment to a felt composed of metal fiber or alloy fiber. .

  And the lower end part of the some fuel cell 2 is being fixed to the fuel gas tank 11 as shown in FIG. That is, the top plate of the fuel gas tank 11 serves as a cell support plate 10 that holds and fixes the lower end portion of the fuel cell 2, and the lower end portion of the fuel cell 2 is supported and fixed to the cell support plate 10. The cell support plate 10 is composed of a cell side plate 10a and a tank side plate 10b. A through hole is formed in the cell side plate 10a, and the tank side plate 10b corresponding to the through hole extends from the fuel gas tank 11 to the fuel cell 2. A through hole 15 for supplying fuel gas is formed. A holding and fixing recess 13 is formed by the through hole of the cell side plate 10a and the tank side plate 10b.

  The sum of the cross-sectional areas of the through holes 15 of the tank side plate 10 b is made smaller than the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the fuel gas passage holes 8 of the fuel cells 2. Thereby, the supplyable amount from the fuel gas tank 11 to the fuel battery cell 2 is made smaller than the dischargeable amount from the fuel battery cell 2. That is, the amount of fuel gas supplied to the fuel battery cell 2 is slightly different in cross-sectional area from the fuel gas passage hole 8 of the fuel battery cell 2 to each fuel gas passage hole 8 by the through hole 15 of the tank side plate 10b. Even so, it is said that it can be discharged with sufficient margin.

  The fuel gas tank 11 is connected to a fuel gas supply pipe 17 for supplying fuel gas into the fuel battery cell 2, and the fuel gas supply pipe 17 is connected to the reformer 6. The to-be-reformed gas supply pipe 19 for supplying the to-be-reformed gas is connected, and the to-be-reformed gas is supplied to the reformer 6 from the outside through the to-be-reformed gas supply pipe 19. The fuel gas is reformed by the reformer 6, and the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel gas tank 11 through the fuel gas supply pipe 17.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the tank side plate 10b constituting the top plate of the fuel gas tank 11 has a plurality of through holes 15 communicating with the gas passage holes 8 formed in the electrode support 2a of the fuel cell 2. The cell side plate 10a is formed with a through hole in which the lower end portion of the fuel cell 2 is accommodated.

  As shown in FIG. 3C, gas passage holes arranged in a row at predetermined intervals in the width direction are formed in the center of the end surface of the electrode support 2a inserted into the holding and fixing recess 13 of the fuel battery cell 2. 8 is formed, and the end surface of the fuel cell 2 is brought into contact with the tank side plate 10b, that is, the bottom surface of the holding and fixing recess 13 to thereby provide a gas storage space 23 between the recess 21 and the tank side plate 10b. Is formed.

  The cell side plate 10a is screwed to a tank side plate 10b functioning as a top plate of the fuel gas tank 10 through a sealing agent such as glass, and the glass is also provided between the inner surface of the through hole of the cell side plate 10a and the outer surface of the fuel cell 2. A sealing agent such as is interposed and joined. Thereby, gas sealing can be performed easily and reliably.

  One end portion of the fuel battery cell 2 is a non-formation region of the oxygen side electrode 2d, and the solid electrolyte 2c is fixed in the through hole of the cell side plate 10a with a sealing agent such as glass. Since the solid electrolyte 2c is fixed to the support plate 10, leakage of the gas in the gas tank 11 from the fuel battery cell 2 can be reliably prevented.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the oxygen-containing gas supply pipe 5 inserted through the combustion region 4 has a tip portion located below the power generation region and located between the cell stacks 3. Excess oxygen-containing gas that has not been used for power generation is configured to naturally flow into the combustion region 4.

  The heat exchanging unit 7 includes an exhaust gas passage 7a through which exhaust gas combusted above the fuel battery cell 2 is discharged, and an oxygen-containing gas storage chamber 7b provided to face the cell stack 3 through the combustion region 4. ing.

  The exhaust gas passage 7a is configured to discharge from above the fuel cell 2 to the outside, and air is introduced into the oxygen-containing gas storage chamber 7b from the outside, and oxygen-containing gas supply The tube 5 is in communication. The exhaust gas passage 7a is formed along the oxygen-containing gas storage chamber 7b, and heat is exchanged in this portion.

  In the fuel cell configured as described above, an oxygen-containing gas (for example, air) from the outside is introduced into the oxygen-containing gas storage chamber 7 b of the heat exchanging unit 6, and the cell of the power generation chamber is connected via the oxygen-containing gas supply pipe 5. The gas is blown between the stacks 3 and supplied between the fuel cells 2, and the gas to be reformed is supplied into the reformer 6 through the gas to be reformed gas supply pipe 19. Then, fuel gas (for example, hydrogen) is supplied into the fuel gas passage hole 8 of the fuel battery cell 2 through the fuel gas supply pipe 17 and the fuel gas tank 11, and power is generated in the cell 2 in the power generation region.

  Excess fuel gas that has not been used for power generation is ejected into the combustion region 4 from the upper end of the fuel gas passage hole 8, and surplus oxygen-containing gas that has not been used for power generation is ejected into the combustion region 4, The fuel gas and the surplus oxygen-containing gas are reacted and burned to generate combustion gas. This combustion gas is led to the exhaust gas passage 7a of the heat exchange section 7 through the combustion gas inlet, and the upper end of the heat exchanger 7 is Discharged from.

  In the fuel cell of the present invention, one end of the fuel cell 2 is held and fixed to the cell support plate 10 and the cell support plate 10 is provided in the gas tank 11, so that the fuel cell 2 is fixed to the storage container 1. Instead of being held and fixed in the gas tank 11 accommodated in the storage container 1, for example, when one fuel cell 2 is damaged, the gas tank 11 in which the fuel cell 2 is held and fixed is stored in the storage container. It can be taken out from 1 and replaced with other non-defective products, which facilitates maintenance.

  Further, since the gas in the gas tank 11 passes through the electrode support 2a from one end to the other end of the fuel cell 2 through the through hole 15 provided in the cell support plate 10, piping is performed as in the conventional case. The gas can be supplied from the gas tank 11 to the fuel cell 2 without using the above.

  In the fuel cell of the present invention, the gas in the fuel gas tank 11 flows into the gas passage hole 8 of the electrode support 2a through the through hole 15 of the tank side plate 10b that functions as the top plate of the fuel gas tank 11, A uniform amount of gas can be easily supplied to the gas passage hole 8 of the fuel cell 2 reliably.

  Further, in the fuel cell of the present invention, the gas in the gas tank 11 is once stored in the gas storage space 23 through the through hole 15 of the tank side plate 10b, and the gas passage hole 8 of the electrode support 2a from the gas storage space 23. Therefore, the gas can be reliably supplied to the gas passage hole 8 of the fuel cell 2 without aligning the gas passage hole 8 of the fuel cell 2 with the through hole 15 of the gas tank 11.

  Further, since the gas in the fuel gas tank 11 is temporarily stored in the gas storage space 23 and flows into the gas passage hole 8 of the electrode support 2a from the gas storage space 23, the pressure in the gas storage space 23 is higher than the pressure in the fuel gas tank 11. As a result, the force for pushing the end face of the fuel cell 2 can be reduced, the gas sealing reliability between the fuel cell 2 and the cell support plate 10 can be improved, and the tank side plate 10b of the fuel gas tank 11 can be improved. Since a plurality of through-holes 15 having a diameter smaller than the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the gas passage holes 8 of the electrode support 2a are formed, the fuel gas supply of a predetermined amount is supported. The internal pressure of the gas tank 11 can be sufficiently increased, and the gas supply to the plurality of fuel cells 2 can be performed uniformly and sufficiently.

  In addition, surplus fuel gas and oxygen-containing gas that did not contribute to power generation are introduced into the combustion region 4 and reacted and burned in the combustion region 4, and the combustion gas and the external oxygen-containing gas are transferred to the heat exchange section. The oxygen-containing gas is preheated by heat exchange between the combustion gas and the oxygen-containing gas in the heat exchanger 7 and heating of the oxygen-containing gas in the oxygen-containing gas storage chamber 7b by combustion. Therefore, the starting time until the fuel cell 2 is heated to substantially generate power can be greatly shortened.

  Furthermore, by providing the reformer 6 above the fuel battery cell 2, the reformer 6 can be directly heated by the combustion gas, heat necessary for reforming can be sufficiently supplied, and reforming performance can be improved.

  The fuel battery cell 2 is configured by providing a fuel side electrode 2b, a solid electrolyte 2c, and an oxygen side electrode 2d on the electrode support 2a, and an interconnector 2e on the electrode support 2a. Since 2b is not used as a support, it is possible to control the composition so as to have optimum characteristics as the electrode support 2a having conductivity and the fuel-side electrode 2b, respectively. The optimum support 2a, fuel-side electrode 2b, can do.

That is, when the fuel-side electrode itself is used as the support, it is necessary to combine the characteristics as the electrode and the support as the support. When a large support is configured, the difference in thermal expansion coefficient from, for example, a solid electrolyte made of YSZ is large, and thus there is a risk of peeling or cracking of the solid electrolyte during production or operation. Since the electrode support 2a is provided separately from the electrode 2b, the composition of the electrode support 2a having the largest volume in the cell is adjusted to the characteristics required for the support, for example, Ni + Y ₂ O ₃ As a result, it has electrical conductivity, the thermal expansion coefficient can be made close to that of the solid electrolyte, and peeling of the solid electrolyte can be prevented.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said form, A various change is possible in the range which does not change the summary of invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the cell stack 3 is configured using the fuel cell 2 having the elliptic cylinder shape and the plurality of fuel gas passage holes 8 as illustrated in FIG. 2 is described. However, the fuel cell is cylindrical. Thus, there may be one fuel gas passage hole, and the shape of the fuel cell is not particularly limited.

  Further, in FIG. 3, the gas containing space 23 is formed by forming the recess 21 on the end face of the fuel cell 2, but as shown in FIG. 4, an annular ring is formed in the holding fixing recess 13 of the cell support plate 10. The gas storage space 27 may be formed inside the annular spacer 25 by arranging the spacer 25 and bringing the end of the fuel cell 2 into contact with the spacer 25. In this case, the gas storage space 27 can be easily formed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a stopper 29 protruding inward is formed in the holding and fixing recess 13 of the cell support plate 10, and the end of the fuel cell 2 is brought into contact with the stopper 29, thereby containing the gas. The space 31 may be formed.

  Moreover, in the said form, although the cell support plate 10 was comprised from the tank side plate 10b which comprises the top plate of the fuel gas tank 11, and the cell side plate 10a fixed on this tank side plate 10b, in this invention, FIG. As shown, the top plate itself of the fuel gas tank 11 may be the cell support plate 35.

  That is, the top plate of the fuel gas tank 11 is a support plate 35, a holding / fixing recess 37 is formed in the cell support plate 35, and a through hole 39 is formed in the bottom surface of the holding / fixing recess 37 to hold and fix it. One end of the fuel cell 2 may be inserted into the concave portion 37 for fixing. In this case, the number of members can be reduced.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the fuel cell of this invention. It is a cross-sectional view showing the cell stack of the fuel cell of the present invention. The connection of a fuel cell and a fuel gas tank is shown, (a) is sectional drawing, (b) is a disassembled perspective view, (c) is a perspective view which shows the recessed part formed in the end surface of a fuel cell. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of the connection of a fuel cell and a fuel gas tank. It is sectional drawing which shows the further another example of the connection of a fuel cell and a fuel gas tank. When the top plate of the fuel gas tank is a support plate, it is a cross-sectional view showing the connection between the fuel cell and the fuel gas tank.

Explanation of symbols

2a ... Electrode support 2b ... Fuel side electrode (inner electrode)
2c: Solid electrolyte 2d: Oxygen side electrode (outer electrode)
2 ... Fuel cell 8 ... Gas passage hole 10 ... Support plate 11 ... Gas tank 13, 37 ... Recess 15 for holding and fixing 15, 39 ... Through hole 21 on support plate ... Recesses 23, 27, 31 of the electrode support body ... Gas storage space 25 ... Spacer 29 ... Stopper

Claims (9)

A fuel cell in which an inner electrode, a solid electrolyte, and an outer electrode are sequentially provided on an electrode support that allows gas to pass in the axial direction, a cell support plate that holds and fixes one end of the fuel cell, and the cell support A gas tank provided with a plate, and the gas in the gas tank passes through the electrode support from one end of the fuel cell to the other end through a through hole provided in the cell support plate. The fuel cell characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the cell support plate constitutes a part of a gas tank. The fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein the cell support plate is a top plate of a gas tank having a through hole. 4. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein one end portion of the fuel cell is a region where the outer electrode is not formed, and the exposed solid electrolyte is fixed to the cell support plate with a sealant. A fuel cell according to claim 1. The fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the gas tank is stored in a storage container. The electrode support has a gas passage hole in the axial direction, the cell support plate has a through hole communicating with the gas passage hole of the electrode support, and the total cross-sectional area of the through hole of the cell support plate is The fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fuel cell has a total cross-sectional area equal to or less than a gas passage hole of the fuel cell. The fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the fuel cell has a plurality of gas passage holes in the axial direction. The cell support plate is formed with the same number of through holes as the gas passage holes of the fuel cell, and the through holes of the cell support plate communicate with the gas passage holes of the fuel cell, respectively. A fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 7. At the end of the electrode support on the gas tank side of the fuel cell, a plurality of gas passage holes of the electrode support and a plurality of through holes of the cell support plate are opened, and a gas storage space in which the gas from the gas tank is temporarily stored 8. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is provided.

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